Firstborn of the Frontier

Seeing her sweet baby boy behind bars was all it took to break Rachel's heart.

It wasn't that the conditions were bad. The cells were cleaner than the one she called home during the months leading up to the Advent, and don't get her started on the horrors of gen pop. Here in jail, Howie was sat all by his lonesome with a cot and toilet all for himself. Even had a bit of a privacy screen to stand or sit behind while doing his business, enough so that you could only see him from one end of the jail cells. Couldn't hide in there to do anything nefarious, but it was enough to keep you from feeling like you was on full display every time you dropped trou. The food didn't look too bad either, though Howie had left his breakfast untouched. Dinner too most like in a silent protest that wouldn't do much of nothing at all except waste some good eats.

He had his pride though, and wouldn't take nothing from no one so as not to incur any debt. A lesson Ming drilled into him for no real reason than just because. Man was charitable as could be, but struggled to accept anyone's help. Including Rachel's help raising Howie, as Ming saw it as an unnecessary burden to her and her family. Unnecessary being the key word there, as he expected a six-year-old boy to be wholly capable of looking after himself. Probably because he himself had been taught to be self-sufficient at that age and he didn't see nothing wrong with that. The stories of how the Republic trained him were always horrifying. They weren't overly cruel or sadistic, not in the typical sense, but those children were deprived of love and affection while being pushed to excel. The pressures placed upon them meant that only the toughest and most dedicated were able to pass muster, and Ming was unable to say what happened to the rest.

Literally unable, because he didn't know. Failure was intolerable, that's how they were taught, and out of sight, out of mind was Ming in a nutshell. There were only two exceptions to the rule, his dearly departed wife, and his beloved child, the Firstborn of the Frontier.

A Firstborn who was looking more and more like him with each passing day. In demeanour more than appearance, but they wasn't all that far off. Howie had lost most of his baby fat in the last year and was looking leaner and meaner for it. Here and now as he sat in the cell, he was channeling his daddy without even trying to, sitting upright on the with perfect posture and hands folded across his lap while staring out at the office floor without seeing much of anything at all. Stoic and unflappable, that was Howie, neither relaxed nor tensed but just… ready. For what, Rachel couldn't say, and his expression was the worst part about it. He didn't look like he was fuming or furious, hardly even appeared concerned or impatient despite knowing he'd soon be released. No, as he sat on that cot and watched the seconds tick by, he looked calm and cold as could be, and she knew him well enough to know that wasn't a good sign.

Because it meant he'd done had enough. Not jail, but of all this in general, of New Hope and the people who called it home, which meant the whole town might as well be dead to him.

Outside of his family of course, and the few friends he still had, but Rachel knew good and well that this here was another bridge he was happy to burn behind him. Before this, he at least tried to make nice with the people of New Hope, kept to his best behaviour unless pushed beyond his limits, like with that horrid guard Dave or random vagrants coming up to him on the streets. There'd be no more of that anymore, because Howie was dead set on treating the strangers in town as hostiles now, and she couldn't even blame him for it.

Yesterday, her sweet baby boy saw people in trouble and what did he do? He ran headlong towards it to save as many lives as he could. Painted a big target on his back and made himself easy pickings for all them Harpies by moving up to the roof, where he fought a frantic battle with nothing but a hatchet and a steel cable in hand. Risked his neck and almost died for it, would have died if not for Chrissy, but didn't no one thank him for it. No, they was blaming him for the attack, with most mistakenly believing he was the one who fired early and lured them Harpies in before everyone had a chance to get to cover. When faced with the facts, how a camera caught that it was another group of kids who done it and Howie was just nearby, so many folks would just twist things around to say it was his fault anyways, because them kids was just trying to be like him.

Didn't make no sense, laying it all on his shoulders like that. What was he supposed to do? Not excel at the work he'd chosen so as not to inspire others who might try and fail? Then there were those folks making a fuss about the Big Spell that cleared out them Harpies at the end. Everyone thought it was something Howie or Chrissy had done, and while it was Chrissy, didn't no one know it for sure. Phantasmal Force don't look like nothing at all to anyone watching who wasn't directly targeted by the Spell itself. To an eyewitness or Video recording, it just looked like them Harpies fell over dead from a stiff breeze, and now folks were all up in arms about Howie concealing some Big Spell or Artifact that could be used against them. That's the only reason why Dharani arrested him, because them guards might well have taken matters into their own hands if the Sheriff didn't act.

What was the world coming to, when Howie wasn't safe here in New Hope unless sat in a locked cell? He knew it too, because he was a smart boy who could read between the lines. Didn't change his outlook none, and Rachel knew it was real bad because he didn't smile when he saw her and Chrissy. Just gave them a nod to show he was fine before doing as instructed and standing against the wall at the back of the cell so they could let him out. Protocol that, but she still hated to see them treat him like a common criminal even though he hadn't done nothing wrong. Or illegal, which wasn't always the case, but this time he'd kept his hands clean and they still came down hard on him for it.

Well… now Howie was all out of patience, and wouldn't no one be better off for it.

Burned her to see them keep the anti-magic manacles on him even after he'd been let out, but Dharani explained it to Rachel and Mr. Tillman beforehand, so there wasn't no helping it. Folks were feeling antsy, and despite the absence of evidence of any wrongdoing on Howie's part, that wasn't evidence of absence. There was a whole lot of folks demanding their Sheriff do something about Howie, so the anti-magic manacles were the middle ground. "So moving forward," Dharani said, even sounding a touch contrite as he did, "You will have to wear the manacles whenever you come into town."

Howie didn't say nothing, just looked at Mr. Tillman who said, "We will fight this decision in court." Meaning, 'Put up with it for today, and we will deal with it once you free'. Howie heard it and just nodded, with the same cold eyes as before. Didn't even bother him to argue it, because he done flipped a switch in his head and New Hope wasn't the town he grew up in anymore. That place was gone now, forever dead to him, and in its place was a town that meant nothing anymore. Hurt to see, but again, she couldn't blame him for it.

Nor did she have any idea what to do about it, because now Dharani would be watching Chrissy close. He wasn't no fool. He had his warrant for the blood test ready and waiting before he came to question Howie, so he probably knew the score. A good thing Howie caught on to the fact that Chrissy learned Phantasmal Force through Intuition, else she might've been clapped in anti-magic manacles too. Possession of a Restricted Spell. That's what they would've charged her with, and Rachel would've had to jump through legal hoops to get Chrissy the proper paperwork to walk around with the Spell prepared, assuming she could get it to happen at all. If Rachel's sweet girl truly Awakened to the Spell through her bloodline, then there was good chance their Princess would have to spend the rest of her days under intense scrutiny.

Or worse. Locked up in the Big House for no reason besides being born with a Spell the Federal Government didn't trust her with.

In some ways, Rachel understood the need, as she herself had done horrendous damage to Bryan, Pamela, and Krista with only Second Order Spells. Her adoptive family had been wracked with grief to see her locked away and sent to the Frontier, and all Rachel could think of was how she done twisted their emotions into knots which they might never unravel. That's why she went to such great lengths to teach Chrissy and Tina both never to use their Enchantments against other people unless absolutely necessary. Howie had been pushing Tina to use Madness, Suggestion, and Hold Creature more often of late, but he didn't understand the damage those Spells could really do.

To say nothing of the social stigma behind them. Didn't no one think twice about a Ranger with Fireball or Beam Lightning prepped, but everyone stepped softly around Kairi Hamilton because they knew she was a pro with Charm Person. A First Order Spell mind you, one she was legally licensed to use, and for that, they called her Catfish Kairi. Not a kind Callsign for any woman, and doubly so when they compared her to Rachel. Didn't do nothing to help their relationship none, and she knew Kairi was being a tad harsher on Tina for it, but better Kairi than some pervy old soldier who might well be tempted to abuse his power and authority over a pretty young thing. The military had a sordid history with women in the ranks, and while Tina knew good and well how to stand up for herself, Rachel felt better knowing there was another woman with her to watch her back.

Which might well be why Uncle Teddy put them together. Not to cast aspersions on Merle, as the gruff Sergeant was a fine Illusionist who could've taught Tina plenty, especially since her talents seemed to lean in that direction. Luckily, she was dead set on being a Vanguard first as opposed to a Supporter, which meant she wanted to learn from Kairi. Course, it would've been best if she was placed with Uncle Teddy himself. While Illusions and Enchantments weren't what came to mind when you thought of the Marshal, most folks didn't realize he'd been a Generalist Grandmagus before coming to the Frontier. That meant that at a minimum, he knew how to prep 3 Sixth Order Spells from every School of magic at the tender age of 35. Wouldn't have no trouble teaching Tina the ropes when it came to Spellslinging, and could do far better than any other Ranger alive when it came to everything else.

Course, the next best thing would've been for Ming to still be around. He couldn't have taught Tina anything about her Spells, being a woman in the military, or even general life advice, but he would've watched out for her like his own. Better than his own if Rachel was being honest, because he expected far too much out of Howie and trained him to meet those unattainable goals. Would've kept him in line at least, which Rachel never could do, as he was a wild child who went his own way more often than not. You could talk sense into him and he'd listen well enough, but once his mind was made on a subject, there wasn't no shifting him from it unless shown the error of his thinking.

In a way, that worked to his advantage these last few years. Most of Ming's lessons stuck well, and Howie was shaping up to be the man his daddy wanted him to be. Pushed himself hard to do it though, and Rachel should've sat him down and talked to him about that, told him that maybe he was old enough to decide what he wanted for himself. She didn't though. Felt too much like dishonouring Ming's memory though, and truth was, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Howie grew up to be just like his daddy. Problem was, there was too much of his mama in him, who Ming described as a temperamental genius with severe control issues and a ruthless streak so wide it'd make the Divide look small in comparison. Said it in a loving way, wearing that soft smile he rarely showed but Howie used more often these days, but Rachel was seeing more and more of his mother in him of late.

Saw it plain as day in the way he disregarded Dharani's efforts to smooth things over, because Howie was done playing nice. He simply nodded and stood stock still while waiting for the Sheriff to lead him out. It was clear as day Dharani didn't like this any more than she did, but he was doing his job and trying to keep everyone safe and calm as best he could. Problem was, the newspapers had put the idea into everyone's head that Howie was a powder keg of violence and bloodshed just waiting to explode. They didn't know the sweet boy who'd sneak over in the dead of night because he was scared of sleeping in his house alone, or the beaming child who howled with laughter while bringing his sisters out to play. He'd grown up to be a hard man, but only because that's who he had to be out there on the Frontier, a simple truth that most in town didn't understand.

As Dharani led Howie out in chains, Mr. Tillman was coaching him on what to expect. "There are reporters outside with questions to ask," he said, glancing at Rachel as he did. "Best that you and your family remain silent as I take a moment to address them. Do try not to antagonize anyone, and if things get ugly, step back and leave the good Sheriff and his deputies to handle matters."

Howie didn't answer, but only because he was too angry to trust himself to speak. Reaching over to squeeze his shoulder, Rachel didn't know what to say, because she was fuming over it too, so she just held on tight and tried not to cry when he gave her a soft, sad look that said he felt like he wanted to cry, but was just too damn stubborn to show it.

Nor would Rachel spoil this for him by crying at his side. Instead, she stood tall and wrapped her arm around Chrissy who was trying her damnedest to hide from the crowd of reporters snapping Photos and barking questions the second they stepped outside. Dharani settled them all with a look though, then his armed deputies stepped forward to make some room. Not to keep Howie safe, or Rachel and Chrissy beside him. No, all this show was to keep the crowd safe, because the way Dharani kept his eyes on Howie, Rachel could tell the Sheriff was more concerned about what her boy might do to the crowd than the other way around.

Or her for that matter, as his hard brown eyes met her own big blues and registered her as a possible problem to be dealt with. Small wonder he almost glowed with magic today, bundled tightly in flows that gave off the hard and impenetrable air of Abjuration. Not just the standard suite either, because she'd bet her life's savings that he had Mental Fortress up to keep her from reaching into his head and whispering a Suggestion to draw his gun and fire on the crowd. Not that she'd ever do such a thing, or even thought that it would work seeing how that would run antithesis to who he was. The world believed that's how the Spell worked though, and this preparation was just who Sheriff Dharani Dhar Patel was. Always making plans for every last contingency, with an eye on keeping the public safe above all else. Was good at his job, which was why they'd elected him eight years running now, but most forgot how much of a hard-liner he'd been when he first started out. Living along the coastline and beset by Abby on all sides, the Bharathi of the Gujarat State took public safety very seriously and dealt with threats in a decisive and merciless manner.

And Howie and Rachel? They were most certainly a possible threat in his eyes, while poor Chrissy might well have made the list too.

Mr. Tillman was a good speaker, impassioned and convincing without coming off as smarmy or slimy like so many lawyers did. "My client has yet to be charged with any crime," he said, using Thaumaturgy to make himself heard, "And yet the Sheriff's Office deems it fit to march him through the streets in chains. This is a violation to his civil liberties and an assault on his rights, an injustice we will not stand for, nor should any of you."

The reporters weren't biting at Mr. Tillman's bait though, as they all wanted a sound bytes from the Firstborn. When his impassioned speech about partiality, police misconduct, and mob mentality was over and done with, their questions were all directed at Howie and phrased in a way to garner a rise out of him. Rachel paid them no mind, but Howie hadn't learned that trick all that well, nor was he all that good at following instructions. Rather than keeping quiet, he locked eyes with one reporter at the front of the crowd with his arm sticking out well past the deputies to get his microphone right in front of Howie's face. "Say that again," Howie said, and the reporters all fell into a hush so as not to miss a thing.

Mr. Tillman tried to usher Howie off then and there, but he didn't budge as the reporter said, "Thomas Keane of the Rimepost Peak. What do you have to say regarding the allegations that yesterday's attack were made worse due to your presence?"

"Allegations," Howie drawled, looking none too amused. "Sounds serious. How come I ain't heard about this from my lawyer then? Tell me, who exactly be making these allegations?"

"In the interest of their safety, I would rather not say," Thomas replied, and his smug, almost gleeful tone made Rachel want to deck him flat.

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"I do believe the Sixth Amendment gives me the right to face my accusers in a court of law," Howie replied. "While under the Accords, I am entitled to hear the testimony of my accusers so that I might have a chance to refute it. So these allegations, are they Federal in nature, or local? Because again, I ain't heard a thing about any allegations."

Howie was playing the fool, and doing it so well that the whole crowd bought it. Including Thomas, who chose words carefully before speaking again. "By allegations, I am referring to discussions being made in private settings, as opposed to any sort of formal indictment."

"Ohhh," Howie replied, really hamming it up. "So barroom talk and unfounded rumours then? That's what you mean by allegations? Because if anyone cared to ask the Sheriff, they'd know that he done already cleared me of any wrongdoing with regards to the Harpy attack. That the baseless allegations of my involvement in the opening shot have long since been refuted by video evidence to the contrary. When that first shot sounded off, I was down the street running away as quick as I could. Even broke into a shop because they locked me and Chrissy out after the Harpies were already there, but they generously let me off on exigent circumstances." The sarcasm was thick as Howie flashed a grin that didn't touch his eyes and added, "Besides, anyone can tell it wasn't me who fired the first shot. When I handle my business, I do it right."

A little reminder that he'd almost singlehandedly seen off a Harpy just last year with no casualties to speak of. Folks cheered him on and spent all night trying to shake his hand then, but this year, all they had were pointed fingers and baseless accusations. Unwilling to give up on his narrative just yet, Thomas grit his teeth and asked, "Then how is it you were caught up in the attack?"

Howie blinked, again playing it up like he was confused when he was anything but. "I wasn't caught up in the attack," he said, giving the reporter a look that clearly said he was doubting the man's intelligence. "I turned around and ran back to it." Finally catching on, Thomas didn't do the obvious and needle Howie about his motivations, maybe imply he was some glory hound or adrenaline junkie whose actions made things worse. No, he figured he'd stepped right into Howie's trap, but had yet to understand how or why. Didn't matter though, because Howie had all that he needed and continued, "After that first shot rang out from behind, I tried to take shelter with Chrissy in a nearby store. Knocked on three doors and didn't no one open up though, as they all just stood and stared while no doubt sending their thoughts and prayers."

Could've done without that dig, but Rachel was in agreement. Thoughts and prayers were nice and all, but real action mattered more.

The crowd didn't seem to mind though, as they was hanging on his every word now. Howie wasn't in no rush though, speaking slowly a clearly for a change. "Took some time, pounding on them doors and getting turned away. Enough for the Harpies to show up down the street, chasing after a bunch of poor souls who'd been locked out same as me. That's why I broke down that door, to get Chrissy safe. Had her throw up an Illusion to hide the broken door. Not perfect, but better than leaving her out in the streets." Turning to Chrissy, he gave her a look so full of love and concern, it warmed Rachel's heart to see it, but only for a moment. Then he was all business again as he faced the crowd of reporters and told his side of the story. "Once she was safe, I ran at them Harpies, because they be a cowardly lot who go after the most threatening target, and I can make myself seem right proper threatening when I want to."

Howie shrugged, slipping into a monologue that no one wanted to stop him from, not even Mr. Tillman as he could see this might help Howie's case. "That's right out of the Ranger playbook for handling Harpies mind you. Send out a decoy to engage and hold their attention while everyone else shoots them Harpies dead. Problem was, didn't no one else go running at them, or take cover and make ready to shoot, and I didn't have no gun, so things got tricky. Still made it out in one piece though, so there's that."

Heaving a sigh, Howie looked up and down the streets and took it all in, and Rachel knew what he was seeing. Not New Hope as it is, but rather as it was all those years ago, that small, ramshackle gathering of huts and cabins with people like Ming, Marcus, and Rachel's Raleigh there to keep it safe. "Lived here in town most my life," Howie said, and she could hear the longing in his voice. "Been through plenty of Harpy attacks, and yesterday's might well have been one of the worst. Before yesterday, I'd have said laid that title on the first. Mostly because wasn't no one expecting so many Abby to just drop out of the skies. Didn't have no watchtowers keepin' an eye on the horizon back then, so we didn't get no advanced warning. Didn't have any Aberrtin reinforced glass windows either, or sturdy wood doors set in solid steel frames. Didn't have as many Aetherarms either, not like lately where most everyone walks around strapped with at least a pistol."

Howie wasn't just telling a story. He was making a point, one that some reporters had already cottoned onto, but Rachel saw that Thomas was lost as ever. "So yeah," Howie drawled, after taking a long pause to reflect on that bloody day. "We lost a lot of people in the opening minute that first Harpy attack. Sixty seconds of pure chaos as the flock descended upon us all in the blink of an eye and made the streets run red with blood."

Rachel had been at home with Chrissy and Tina during the attack, so she'd been spared the worst of it. Howie though? He'd been front and centre along the main thoroughfare, helping his daddy do something or the other before they set out on patrol again. Lord knows what poor Howie saw that day, or what he seen while they was riding out and about on the Frontier, but it shaped him in ways that couldn't be missed. It showed in his wolfish smile which came back in full force once he was done reminiscing over that horrific day as he latched onto only the best parts and forgot all the pain and heartache after the fact.

"Sixty seconds is all them Harpies got though," he said, meeting the eyes of each and every person in the crowd one by one as they hung onto his every word. "Because once the fight got underway, everyone stepped up to see Abby off. Sure, there were Rangers like my daddy and the Marshal nearby to lend a hand, but wasn't all on them. Regular folks like Anita the grocer opened up their doors to let people like me take shelter, and she handled the three Harpies that got in with her Blastgun. Across the street, I saw Otis the baker throwing trays and baking pans at Harpies, Hamish the Butcher laying into them with a shovel, Postmaster Pat guiding folks to safety inside the office. Yeah, we lost a lot of good people that day, but we would've lost a whole lot more if the good men and women of New Hope didn't step up to fight with tooth and nail while protecting their families and their neighbours."

Pausing for effect, Howie cast his gaze over the crowd so they could see his disgust, and not a one could meet his eyes. He had a way of looking at a person like they wasn't a person anymore, but a slab of meat bound for the butcher's block. Cold is what it was, colder than his daddy ever was, and Rachel shuddered to see it. "Didn't see none of that in yesterday's attack," he said, sucking his teeth to convey his scorn. "Makes it all the worse in my book. Wouldn't have happened in the town I grew up in, the New Hope of yesteryear where folks looked out for one another and had each other's backs. The New Hope I seen yesterday? This here is a town where every man and woman is only looking out for themselves. Got people locking their doors the second they hear the alarms and looking away while folks still outside be pounding on their doors. Men and women with guns on their belts or behind their counters, weapons that sit unused because don't none of them care to risk their hides to do anything about anything. And those who do, the ones who go against the grain and step up to help?" Raising his shackled wrists once more, Howie scoffed. "Well, apparently, we get clapped in chains and marched through the streets like a criminal. Okay then. Wasn't expecting any thanks or reward, but now I see how it is. My mistake. Won't happen again."

A chilling promise that broke Rachel's heart to hear, because she knew good and well Howie meant it for truth. Said it before how Ming was charitable as could be and how his lessons stuck with Howie long after he passed, but the truth of the matter was that Howie's heart wasn't nowhere as big as his daddy's. Mign was a man who'd drop everything to help a stranger in need. Howie wouldn't drop nothing for no one unless they were close friends or family. Hardly the worst thing in the world, but it wasn't a pleasant truth to accept, that the boy you all but raised as your own wasn't as magnanimous as his saint of a daddy. Rachel couldn't help but feel partially responsible, because while she did plenty for the community, she never pushed him to help too because she figured he already had too much on his plate.

And now? Now he was telling the world he was done with charity. Again, hardly the worst statement to make, but not exactly something to shout from the rooftops like Howie was doing. The fact that he framed it as just going along with the crowd made it even worse, because didn't no one like having their own flaws exposed like that, and wouldn't no one thank him for it.

Not that he cared. That was the whole point he was trying to make here, that he was done helping out in any way whatsoever. And he had been helping, or at least he thought he was, as in his eyes, taking out all those outlaws with bounties on their heads was akin a public service. Thing is, even if a job's gotta be done, don't mean folks care to shake the executioner's hand.

Wasn't nothing for it though, because truth was, Rachel would much prefer if he didn't go haring off into fights with nothing but a hatchet and length of cable. Neither of which were returned to him just yet, as the Sheriff still had them under lock and key after taking them as 'evidence'. As for Howie, he was done talking and turned to leave, only for Thomas Keane to press his luck even further. "So you're saying that even after yesterday's debacle, you believe it's best practice for the people to take matters into their own hands instead of leaving the defense of the town to the Rangers and professionally trained guards?"

"I didn't say that at all, Tom." Giving the reporter a look that conveyed exactly what he thought about him, Howie said, "I'm saying that sometimes, you gotta look out for yourself. Pay attention, because it seems like a lesson you could use. Can't imagine anyone care to look out for you."

Didn't no one laugh at the joke, and even Howie didn't seem all that amused as he left set out for the docks with head held high. After a few steps, he turned and took Rachel's hand to pull her up beside him, so they was walking all together in front of the Sheriff and his deputies. For a little bit at least, until them Deputies scurried ahead to clear the path while the reporters all followed along behind shouting questions and making a general nuisance of themselves. Howie paid it no mind though, and Rachel followed suit as she hugged her boy with a sigh.

"Don't worry Aunty Ray," he said, speaking softly so as not to be overheard. "I ain't gonna stick my neck out for no one no more, but I ain't about to hang no one out to dry either."

"I know," she said, pulling him in close for a hug as they walked. Seeing this, Chrissy found the courage to slip out from under Rachel's arm to latch onto Howie's so he was in between them. Didn't have a hand to hold, but he made do by touching his head to hers as they walked in lockstep. It was sweet of her, because even scared and worried as she was, Chrissy wanted to protect Howie and guarded his weak side, her eyes focused on the present as she looked this way and that. That was rare, and Rachel loved how her Princess looked with her hair all done up in ribbons with her new Metamagic hoop earrings on full display.

Cowie was looking adorable too as he ambled along behind them, a big, gentle giant with three puffed up kiccaws perched atop his head. He was feeling mighty unsettled by the Deputies and reporters, so he kept himself between them and the crowd like a good partner should. The sweet bull was all Howie had out there on the quay, and now he'd be coming back even less often all because he done took the heat for Chrissy's Phantasmal Force.

Besides, Howie was right. The New Hope Rachel loved and cherished so much was dead and gone. It was a death by inches, one that happened right before her eyes but she'd never noticed it until today. To think, three stores locked their doors on Howie and all them other people out on the streets, to say nothing of all them other stores along that stretch of road that barely had any people taking shelter inside. It never should've happened, never would've if this was still the town she loved so much, the town she and her husband helped build. A town where her boy wasn't welcome anymore, and Chrissy might not be either, so Rachel was thinking a change of venue might not be the worst idea in the world.

"Howie," she began, more on impulse than anything else, but the idea had already taken root and wouldn't leave her be. "What would you think about me signing over the house to Tina and bringing Chrissy to come live at the quay?" Seeing his frown, she pinched his cheek and faked a glower. "What? Don't want me crampin' your style up there? Don't worry, I ain't lookin' to move in. We can be neighbours, same as before."

Howie was a smart cookie when he cared to be, and he glanced over at Chrissy as soon as he figured out why she was bringing it up. "I'd love to have you up there," he began, showing that all her hard-taught lessons in sweet-talking weren't for naught. "But only if you want to be there. Don't be comin' up on my account, or runnin' scared for no reason at all. Ain't no cause for concern after all."

"Not yet at least," Rachel said, stifling a sigh as she reached over to pat Chrissy's head. Their silver-haired Princess already had some highly restricted Spells, but there were still a whole lotta landmines left to dodge in the Schools of Illusion and Enchantment. If Rachel and her Raleigh were any indication, Chrissy was gonna hit every last one of them on her way up. Tina would be fine, because she was a Ranger and would get all the training she'd need, but Chrissy wasn't like that. Would be all too tragic if she Awakened to a restricted Spell in her sleep and didn't tell no one about it, because why would she? All it'd take from there is one random blood test, one Dharani would be well within his rights to demand at any time given their family history. Thus far, he'd had no reason to even consider it, but after yesterday's Harpy attack? It was difficult to say what he was thinking, as he'd always been a hard man to read. Didn't matter though, because Chrissy's freedom and future happiness was not something she wanted to gamble on, so getting her out of town would be for the best.

"You ain't gonna miss the house Uncle Raleigh built?" Howie asked, which was a silly question to ask, and he knew it too. "Just sayin'. Might be that you just scared and overreacting."

"Might be you got a lot to learn about arguin' with women," Rachel grumbled, wondering how the boy she raised could've turned out to be such a fool. "Never tell a woman she overreacting, especially if she is."

"Yes ma'am," he replied, earning himself a genuine scowl. He smiled to see it though, that same soft smile as Ming's, and Rachel's heartache eased just a bit to see that there was still some of his daddy in him. "Tell you what. Why don't we put a pin in this for now? No sense making plans just yet when I'm about to head out west." Glancing over at Chrissy, his expression was a curious mix of concern and pride, because he did love her so and only wanted her to succeed at anything she tried her hand at. Rachel wanted the same of course, but she wasn't so sure she wanted Chrissy to become a gun-fighting, Spellslinging mercenary just like Howie. Fact was, she was sure she didn't want that, if only because she knew her Chrissy was much too sweet to ever hurt anybody.

"Besides," Howie added, hoping to rally his sister to his cause, "You ain't asked how Tina or Chrissy feel about it."

"Move to quay," Chrissy replied, which was a surprise since they wasn't using ASL to keep her focused. Showed that she was paying attention all on her own, able to follow the conversation despite the two of them jumping back and forth between topics.

"Won't Tina be sad then?" Howie asked, playing dirty because he didn't want them to give up on New Hope for him. "She'll be all alone here in town. Plus, I ain't gonna be around all the time anyways, so most weeks you and your mama will be up there all by your lonesome."

Chrissy didn't bat an eye. "Can come back." That's all she said, and she really hit the nail on the head. They wasn't exiled like Howie was, so wasn't nothing keeping them from going back and forth between houses. An angle neither Howie nor Rachel had picked up on, but Chrissy saw things clear as day, so they shared a look between them before breaking out into big smiles.

Yeah, having a place out in the quay was ideal, as then Rachel could test Chrissy before heading into town to minimize the chances of getting caught out by a new Spell. Should probably test her weekly even, though the thought of pricking her poor baby's finger week after week was enough to bring a tear to her eye. What's more, a little bit of distance from New Hope might be good for them all, as it hadn't been pleasant putting up with all the whispers and dirty looks. Wasn't Howie's fault, but wasn't easy either, so even if Rachel would be sad to leave her home of almost 18 years, she knew in her heart of hearts that it wasn't the same place anymore.

Never would be either, not with so many dearly departed friends who'd never return. Friends like Marcus, Ming, and her Raleigh to name a few, because if she sat down to list every last person she'd ever lost, she'd be there for hours without end.

As soon as Howie stepped foot outside the gates, he stopped in his tracks and refused to budge. Paid no mind to the gate guards gruffly telling him to move aside, and instead stood there with wrists raised as he jangled the manacles for Dharani to see. "We outside town walls now," Howie said, his tone taking on that frigid air he normally reserved for his enemies. That wasn't Dharani, not now, and not ever, but Howie was drawing a line in the sand to show how it was. He'd play along while they was in town, but once outside, he was done dancing to the Sheriff's tune.

A message Dharani received and didn't much care for, but wasn't much he could do about it either. Instead, he simply unlocked Howie's manacles, handed over all his gear, and gestured for his Deputies to stand down. Didn't need them to play crowd control no more, because Howie's stand here reminded everyone of the stakes involved. Inside of town, Federal Laws and freedom of the press kept them reporters safe. Outside the walls? Well, the Accords didn't have nothing of the sort, and Howie could beat a man bloody for stepping on his toes and claim self defense.

That there was the crafty, cagey side of Howie that got him in so much trouble. Rachel didn't like it much, but Ming had confessed to doing the same more than once, so she knew it was a necessity. Howie relied on those loopholes a bit too often though, and everyone knew it. Even the guards were reluctant to rush him now that they'd been reminded of the facts, so he took his sweet time standing in the gateway while rubbing his right wrist with a grimace. That phantom pain was bothering him more and more these days, instead of slowly fading away with time like Uncle Art said it should, and Rachel didn't know what else to do about it. All she could do was run her fingers through his hair, and he gave her a smile that said it meant the world to him.

One he never would've shown just a year ago. Instead, he would've scowled and grumbled about his dignity or something to that effect. Yeah, might be moving out to the quay for a few months of the year would be good for him too, because he had to be hurting while feeling so alone in the world. Just the winters for the most part, and maybe a week or two every now and then. Tina would soon be out on patrol most days anyways, gone for weeks at a time and only a few hours away if she ever came home and felt lonely.

Her mind made, Rachel shooed Howie out of the way so they wasn't blocking traffic no more. They still had to say their goodbyes after all, but Howie still had business with his lawyer to deal with once they lost their audience. "What you know about the conditions for declaring Independence?" Howie asked, catching all of them off guard.

"Not much," Mr. Tillman admitted. "Matters of territory are complicated, especially if the original settlers of said land have already declared an affiliation."

"Think you could find out more? Or refer me to a lawyer who does know?"

"I will ask around," Mr. Tillman replied, before seeing himself off. Didn't even ask to settle up on his bill first, meaning he was seeing dollar signs over Howie's inquiry. As well he should, because even though the docks were Federally owned, Howie had a claim to all the land around it, and Independents were free to levy taxes on all trade passing through their territory. That wasn't why Howie was asking though. No, he was asking because he'd seen how few protections being a Freeholding landowner afforded him, especially one who'd been Exiled. An Independent though? That might offer him more protection, though Rachel doubted it. The Feds weren't gonna kowtow to a small, independent village who don't got no backing, even if it was run by Howie.

Then again, he'd surprised her before, and might well do so again with whatever idea he had rattling around in his head.

An even bigger surprise was the goodbye kiss he planted on her cheek. Without even being asked mind you, though he still coloured to do it. Which of course meant she had to give him a big old hug and return his kiss tenfold by planting them all over his cheeks. Which he pretended to hate, but didn't actually, and they ended things off with a big group hug by the gate side. "Think on it," Howie said, which they'd already agreed on, but somehow, he knew Rachel had made up her mind on the matter. "And that other thing too." Meaning Chrissy and her going along with him to the Deadlands. Hardly the safest trip out there, especially considering Edward was his guarantor. A sweet man he was, but a strange one, and no one ever accused him of being reliable either. Add in the fact that the Brits were even worse to their Innates than the Federation and Rachel wasn't in love with the idea, but she couldn't bear to stand in Chrissy's way, not when this was the first time she'd ever shown initiative. And showing more each day too, so maybe now was the time to let go of her Princess and let her leave the nest.

Whether it be to soar off into sky or plummet down to ground below still remained to be seen, but Rachel knew Howie would do everything in his power to bring Chrissy home safe and sound, and that ought to be reassurance enough. It wasn't of course, because she was a mother and she'd worry no matter what, but come hell or high water, at least her babies would have each other.